Community Issues

The 2006 LIFE Study reported that access to mental health services is one of the leading issues affecting residents of the Fox Cities and cited the following statistics:

• 40% of Fox Cities' residents experienced stress or depression within the last 30 days.
• 15% reported being unable to obtain the mental health services that they needed.
• Approximately 25% of 10th graders experienced depression in the past year and 14% attempted suicide.
• In one area hospital, 6% of the emergency room visits were for mental health or AODA related issues.
• Besides the discomfort of the person living with untreated mental illness, the ripple effect of untreated mental illness creates greater burdens for the health, justice, safety and human service systems in the area.

Project Description

United Way's Promoting Health, Healing and Crisis Intervention Impact Area, in conjunction with the Menasha Joint School District, developed a pilot project that offers school-based mental health services in Clovis Grove Elementary School, Maplewood Middle School and Menasha High School.  The pilot project is operating over a two year period and targets those students experiencing difficulty accessing mental health services elsewhere in the community.  Many are uninsured or under-insured and come from families with limited resources and experiencing other barriers that prevent access to care.  The mental health therapy is provided by a consortium of agencies including Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay, Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin and Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

Results to Date

The project began accepting students for therapy services in May 2008.  After one year of operation, the project reported the following results:

• 53 students were provided school-based mental health services.
  • 81% expereinced reduced symptoms.
  • 79% reported increased functioning.
  • 60% had improved school attendance.
  • 81% showed improved academic performance.
• All of the students are from families that are either uninsured or under-insured.
• Many of the students were on long waiting lists elsewhere in the community.  One student had been on a waiting list a year and a half.
• The students want to succeed in school and many of those participating in the project at the high school level were self-referrals.
• Barriers to mental health care in the community include:
  • Parent work schedules,
  • Lack of reliable transportation,
  • Language barriers,
  • Health barriers,
  • Lack of parental support.